J W Waterhouse

Rating:
Summary: Nice to own
Review: A nice book to own indeed, enjoyed the lively commentary on the artist - not the usual very dry stuff. However, could just sob with despair at the black and white reproductions, some of which are not in colour anywhere in the book. Perhaps considered less important than some of his contemporaries? Maybe that's why the book is not as sumptuous as one's on Burne-Jones, Alma-Tadema etc. If you are a Waterhouse fan, buy it!

Rating:
Summary: A compelling glimpse at the work of a 19th century master
Review: Anthony Hobson has gathered together a lovely collection of paintings and studies by one of the foremost academic painters of the latter half of the nineteenth century. This glimpse at the sensuous and compelling work of Waterhouse, draws you into a bygone world of story-telling and visual richness. His evocative paintings summon up legendary stories and myths with a deftness that is masterfully served by his painting abilities. Upon encountering this book, I made a point of seeing his "Lady of Shalott" at the Tate, and have since revisited this book often.

Rating:
Summary: A visual delight.......Stunning!
Review: Anthony Hobson is so enamored with J.W. Waterhouse that he published a second book about the artist. If you are a fan, this is very good news! There are many paintings here that one may never have seen before, but alas there are also many that are not featured. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful book to give or to receive. There is also a "mini-biography" throughout that adds to the enjoyment of this art book.

Rating:
Summary: A visual delight.......Stunning!
Review: Anthony Hobson is so enamored with J.W. Waterhouse that he published a second book about the artist. If you are a fan, this is very good news! There are many paintings here that one may never have seen before, but alas there are also many that are not featured. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful book to give or to receive. There is also a "mini-biography" throughout that adds to the enjoyment of this art book.

Rating:
Summary: Waterhouse: An Artist's Artist
Review: During my education and professional life as an artist and professor of art the work of the Pre-Raphaelites and their contemporaries especially Waterhouse was/is extremely appealing and inspirational to me and many of my peers who are painters or illustrators. His work is among the best of his and any era since. The lavish reproductions in this book do homage to the wonderful God-given ability of the artist. Waterhouse's nymphs, faeries and women are innocent, gorgeous, and fetching, his colors deep, dark and lush, his men heroic and altruistic. If you love PreRaphaelite era art, Romanticism, mythical stories skillfully representated in figure art, this is the book for you. Though I bought the book for the reproductions, I recently read the text and found it helpful.

Rating:
Summary: A must-have book for Waterhouse fans!
Review: I discovered the work of Waterhouse fairly recently at anexhibition of art in Seattle of paintings from England's RoyalAcademy. I fell in love with his work instantly, started looking for websites about him & stumbled across a website bearing his name which recommended this book. Needless to say I purchased it instantly. I agree with the previous reviewer that it is a shame about the b/w reproductions (many of them are reproduced in color on the website mentioned above), but it is more than made up for with the wonderful research that Anthony Hobson had done (I have found out that sadly he died in late 1999). To sum up: a wonderful introduction to the work and life of John William Waterhouse, a timeless master among British artists!

Rating:
Summary: A well written introduction to Waterhouse
Review: I find Waterhouse the greatest of the late 19th-century British painters. His women are full of life. He was a master at capturing the slightest expression to convey the personalities of his models. His compositions are superb. Paintings such as the 1888 "The Lady of Shalott" and the 1894 treatment of the same subject are as powerful as they are beautiful.

Hobson makes his admiration of Waterhouse's paintings obvious. This makes the book a very enjoyable read. It is a wonderful introduction to Waterhouse's work. Hobson spends a lot of time discussing paintings--this is something that is too often forgotten in art history texts. He identifies aspects of Waterhouse's compositions that help make his paintings outstanding. He describes the literary sources of Waterhouse's subjects. He mentions the artists who influenced Waterhouse's style. The essays are clear and well-organized. Anyone who is interested in Waterhouse's work should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Don't get this one for the reproductions
Review: I think I made a mistake when ordering and accidentally got this book instead of Trippi's hardcover. The narrative is interesting and insightful, but the reproductions are an outrage. Black and white for Circe Ividiosa and for (gasp) THE MAGIC CIRCLE??? Come on! Black and white should only be used to make a point about light and shade or for lesser works and studies. But there are several masterworks reproduced in B/W in this book. Also, the color reproductions are lousy as well. 3 stars overall out of respect for the author, but 1 star for the plates.

Rating:
Summary: Catching the essence of mythology
Review: Waterhouse stands out as one of the most beloved artists of all time for those who love mythology in history. Ever since reading this book I have been consumed by the desire to find a print of his work entitled "Ulysses and the Sirens". If anyone has any knowledge of one in existence please contact me at [e-mail] Thank you!

Rating:
Summary: Catching the essence of mythology
Review: Waterhouse stands out as one of the most beloved artists of all time for those who love mythology in history. Ever since reading this book I have been consumed by the desire to find a print of his work entitled "Ulysses and the Sirens". If anyone has any knowledge of one in existence please contact me at [e-mail] Thank you!